South Dakota State wrestles in its final Western
Wrestling Conference dual this season versus North Dakota State. Start time is
set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, in Frost Arena.

Last week, the Jackrabbits hosted Utah Valley and
Northern Colorado. The Wolverines edged SDSU 22-18 on Wednesday night, but the
Jacks rebounded for a 28-13 win versus the Bears.

The split moved SDSU to 5-10 overall, 1-3 in the WWC
and fifth in the conference standings.

First-year head coach Chris Bono
and first-year assistant coaches Israel Silva and Andrew Sorenson leads SDSU. Bono posted a 39-17-0 record
in three years at Tennessee at Chattanooga, including a 15-0 SoCon record. His
squad won three SoCon regular season and tournament championships and he was
named SoCon Coach of the Year all three seasons.

DIVISION I NCAA COACH RANK - The NCAA released its first coaches' panel
rankings for the 2012-13 season. Final rankings are one of the tools used to
determine the qualifiers for the NCAA Championships.

Dustin Walraven checked in at No. 31 in the 149-pound weight class
in the initial rankings. Walraven leads SDSU with a 21-11 overall record, 9-5
in duals and 3-1 in conference. His seven pins are a season best and he has the
second-fastest pin by a Jackrabbit this season (0:54).

THIS WEEK'S COMPETITIONNo. 25 North Dakota State Bison -
SDSU faces NDSU for the 57th time in school history, the most of any opponent. The
first meeting between the two teams was in the 1958-59 season, a 22-9 win for
the Jackrabbits. The Bison lead the all-time series 36-19-1, including a
two-dual winning streak. SDSU last defeated NDSU in its final dual of the
2009-10 season (23-22).

Last season, SDSU scored one pin and one decision
(Walraven, 141) at NDSU, but an early-dual forfeit was costly and the Bison ran
away with the dual.

Four NDSU wrestlers are ranked in the second coaches’ panel rankings. Steven Monk is the top-ranked Bison wrestler, checking in at No. 6 at 165 pounds. Trent Sprenkle (No. 10 at 125), Mac Stoll (No. 22 at 184) and Evan Knutson (No. 33 at 285) also cracked the rankings. All four wrestlers are probable starters for NDSU on Friday.

North Dakota State is 9-8 overall, but undefeated
(4-0) in the WWC this season. The conference leader won at Air Force (23-15),
at No. 14 Wyoming (22-15), vs. Utah Valley (18-15) and vs. Northern Colorado
(36-8). NDSU is 3-5 in duals versus ranked opponents this season, including a
22-12 loss versus No. 1 Minnesota (Golden Gophers won the final four matches).

Other than the four conference opponents, the two
teams have two non-conference common opponents this season. Both SDSU and NDSU
were bested by No. 7 Missouri and No. 20 Northern Iowa.

Live scoring for the dual are available via
TrackWrestling.com and live video is available via GoJacks.com.

Takedown Wrestling's broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. (CST) with a preview of the dual meet along with coaches interviews. Jeff Murphy, Vice President of Kemin Industries, is attending the dual and will be a part of the broadcast team. Kemin is a life science company that makes human and animal innovations.

In addition, Takedown's Saturday Morning Radio Show will be broadcast live at 9-11 a.m. from Frost Arena and will feature South Dakota State Athletic Director Justin Sell, Head Coach Chris Bono, along with other administrators and student-athletes.

Fans, athletes and coaches can join in the conversation live by calling 866-333-5966 or 515-204-5966. Listen on your radio, computer, Blackberry or iPhone on KXNO.com, TakedownRadio.com or with the I Heart Radio application.

NEXT UP - SDSU closes out its
five-dual homestand and the regular season in its final dual versus Big Ten foe
No. 18 Northwestern (InterMat Tournament-Strength Rankings). Dual time is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, in Frost Arena.

LAST WEEK'S COMPETITIONNorthern Colorado Bears - The South
Dakota State wrestling team, propelled by two pins, tamed the Bears 28-13 on
Friday night in Frost Arena.

Instead of the traditional 125-pound start, the two
teams drew a starting weight of 165 pounds.

Joe Brewster opened versus Iver Sandoval. Brewster
put together an early lead with a takedown in the first period, a lead he would
not relinquish. After a few more takedowns and an escape, Brewster scored a 9-5
decision. The Jacks started the dual on top, once again.

At 174 pounds, John Nething II scored another
decision for the Jacks versus Jesse Nielsen. Nething II scored a first-period
takedown for a 2-0 lead, but was tied at the end of the second. In the third,
Nething II escaped for the lead and added a point for riding time advantage for
a 4-2 decision.

The Jacks formed a trend, as Shea Nolan opened his
match with a takedown versus Keith Johnson. The two battled three periods,
alternating takedown attempts, but in the end Nolan's second-period reversal
was the difference in a 4-2 decision.

Northern Colorado found the scoreboard in the fourth
match with a 16-2 major decision at 197 pounds.

The Bears added a decision at 285 and the two teams entered
intermission with the Jacks in front 9-7.

Aaron Pickrel showed his senior leadership at 125
pounds versus Abe Fox. In need of a momentum shift, Pickrel used a takedown,
nearfall combination to amass 15 points and only allowed one escape for a 15-1 major
decision.

In the 133-pound match, Brance Simms built a big lead
with six takedowns in the first period. In the second, Simms was one point away
from a tech fall when he put Brandon Gallagher on his back and scored a pin.
The result forced Northern Colorado into three must-win matches.

At 141, Ben Gillette posted a sound 9-3 decision
versus Nick Adams. The result put the dual out of reach, as SDSU led 22-7 with
only two matches remaining.

Dustin Walraven did not let up in the next match
versus Nick Alspaugh. Walraven, ranked No. 31 in the first NCAA coaches' panel
rankings, built an 8-0 lead through two periods, but scored another Jackrabbit
pin late in the second.

The Bears won the final match by pin, but it was not
enough as SDSU won 28-13.

SDSU upped its record to 5-10 overall, 1-3 in the
Western Wrestling Conference and leapfroged the Bears in the standings.
Northern Colorado dropped to 1-8, 0-3 in the conference.

Utah Valley
Wolverines - The South Dakota State
wrestling team battled Utah Valley in numerous matches, but the Wolverines
escaped Brookings with a 22-18 win.

The dual was SDSU's first and only mid-week dual of
the season in its third Western Wrestling Conference competition.

The Jacks opened the dual with a lead, as Utah Valley
forfeited the opening match at 125 pounds.

Brance Simms lined up versus Chasen Tolbert at 133. Simms scored
an early takedown, but allowed an escape takedown in a 30-second span. While on
the bottom, Simms turned the tables and forced his back onto the chest of Tolbert
and scored the defensive pin.

At 141 pounds, Ben Gillette
faced Avery Garner. Garner took a five-point, first-period lead and Gillette
was unable to recover, as Garner pulled away for a 9-2 decision.

In a battle of ranked wrestlers, No. 31 Dustin Walraven wrestled No. 22 Josh Wilson at 149. The
match was closer than the scoreboard indicated, but Wilson used a pair of
third-period takedowns and riding time to score a 12-4 major decision.

Utah Valley took its first lead of the dual after a
pin at 157 pounds. The result took the teams to intermission.

The 165-pound match was a struggle in a low-scoring
affair. Joe Brewster and Abner Cook spent the
majority of the match in neutral position and finished the third period tied
2-2. In the first overtime period, the two wrestled the first 58 seconds in
neutral, but Brewster used his final effort to score a takedown and a 4-2
decision. The win put SDSU back on top 15-3 with four matches remaining.

After a Wolverine decision at 174, SDSU trailed
16-15.

At 184 pounds, Shea Nolan
faced Derek Thomas. The two wrestled in another low-scoring match, but Nolan
received two points from stalling calls. Nolan scored an escape late in the
third period and was able to stay on his feet for a 3-2 decision. The Jacks
retook the lead 18-16 with two matches remaining.

Joe Skow took on David Prieto in the first of two decisive
matches. Following a scoreless first period, Prieto chose down and scored a
quick escape. Skow matched the play in the third period and the two advanced to
the second sudden victory match of the dual. Unfortunately for the Jacks,
Prieto scored a takedown midway through the first overtime for a 3-1 decision.

The dual was decided by the final match between J.J. Everard and Adam Fager. Fager struck first with a
takedown midway through the first period, but Everard escaped seconds later.
Everard started down in the second and escaped after one minute, but Fager
scored another takedown. Everard scored a second escape to close the second
period. Fager chose down to start the third, but SDSU allowed a point for
neutral. The scoring stopped as Utah Valley escaped in the match and the dual.

The Jacks dropped to 4-10 overall, 0-3 in conference.
Utah Valley moved to 5-2, 2-1 in conference.

SAMARITAN'S FEET - Coach Bono coached the Simpson dual on Jan. 11 barefoot
to raise awareness for Samaritan's Feet. Coach Bono is the first wrestling
coach to join the movement and is the first Division I coach to participate
barefoot in 2013.

"If by me doing this, we can put one pair of
shoes on somebody who does not have shoes, then it is worth it," said
Bono. "Anything we can do to support the cause, and it is a great one, we
are happy to do it."

Samaritan's Feet is a non-profit, humanitarian aid
organization and so much more - a community of more than 70,000 volunteers who
have joined together to make a difference in the lives of children in need in
every corner of the world. Over four million impoverished children and adults
in more than 60 nations being served by having their feet washed, receiving a
new pair of shoes and hearing a message of hope.

Samaritan's Feet and its team of global ambassadors
have touched the lives of men, women and children across the United States and
around the world in an effort to help the nearly 300 million people who go
without shoes each day and the more than a million who die each year as a
result. Through this simple act of humility and servant-leadership, our team
members and volunteers are expressing love, compassion, and a message that
brings hope.

Nearly 300 million people go without shoes each day
and millions are plagued with foot-borne illnesses that may be preventable by
simple protection - shoes.

For more information or to donate to Samaritan's Feet
visit its website and click on SDSU Wrestling-Coach Bono.

TOP-10 RECRUITING CLASS - Head coach Chris Bono
and assistant coaches Israel Silva and Andrew Sorenson announced the signing of the sixth-best
recruiting class in the nation (The Open Mat, Amateur Wrestling News).

Eight student-athletes joined the Jackrabbit
wrestling team on signing day, including three ranked by Amateur Wrestling
News. Brandon Brunner, Hank Goettl, Colin Holler, Coltan Laganiere, Paul
Mascarenas, Austin Oyen, Nathan Rotert and Matt Seabold make up the best
recruiting class in SDSU history.

The No. 6 ranking makes it the best recruiting class
for any sport in the history of Jackrabbit athletics.

South Dakota State and the wrestling coaching staff
announced the addition of Alex Kocer to the
Jackrabbit wrestling team.

Kocer is a South Dakota five-time state champion from
Wagner, S.D. Kocer won the 152-pound Class B state title as a senior in 2012 en
route to an undefeated season (44-0). He first climbed the championship ladder
in 2008 at 103 pounds and won three titles between his first and last (2009 at
118 pounds, 2010 at 130 and 2011 at 152).

In effect, Kocer joins next year's recruiting class,
already touted as one of the best in the nation (The Open Mat, Amateur
Wrestling News).